Arsenal ahead of Chelsea, bid £72m for top Serie A forward

Posted : 14 June 2024

Giovanni Scotto has confirmed that Arsenal is currently leading Chelsea in the race to sign Victor Osimhen. Arsenal has taken advantage of Chelsea's wavering interest in the Nigerian striker and has initiated discussions with his agent regarding a potential transfer to the Emirates. Despite being a long-standing target for Chelsea, it appears they have now backed away from pursuing Osimhen.

Osimhen has been in outstanding form since his pivotal role in Napoli's Serie A triumph in the 2022-23 season, where he scored 31 goals in all competitions. Initially attracting Chelsea's attention, his substantial release clause seemed to deter further pursuit from the Blues. Now, with Chelsea stepping back, Arsenal has emerged as the frontrunner in the race. Reports from Italy indicate that Arsenal has made a substantial bid of £72 million for the striker.

Meanwhile, Napoli's president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has traveled to France to discuss a potential move for Osimhen to Paris Saint-Germain with the PSG president. Italian journalist Giovanni Scotto has also highlighted Arsenal's interest in the former LOSC Lille forward, stating:

"It will take some time because the Nigerian shouldn’t move before July. He’s waiting for the Premier League with his agent, who has spoken to Arsenal, while Chelsea seems to have slipped away."

Chelsea appears to have made a definitive decision not to pursue Osimhen further. The obstacles include his high release clause and concerns over his injury record, despite his prowess as a skilled and efficient center-forward. With Benjamin Sesko also out of their plans, Chelsea must now explore alternative options to strengthen their attacking line for the upcoming season.

The response from Napoli to Arsenal's bid remains uncertain, especially given the perceived inadequacy of Arsenal's initial offer relative to Osimhen's release clause set by Napoli. The negotiations are expected to be challenging, with Napoli likely to hold firm on their valuation of the 24-year-old striker.

Finding a suitable club for Osimhen could prove difficult if no team is willing to meet Napoli's demands, despite the player's readiness to leave. The options remaining are either meeting Napoli's asking price or possibly waiting for Osimhen's contract to run down, although the latter scenario appears less likely.

Arsenal ahead of Chelsea, bid £72m for top Serie A forward

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